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North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has called on local authorities across the country to follow Swindon’s lead in delivering new and appropriate housing developments, which see the right homes built in the right places.

Political parties and residents in Swindon worked together to draw up a Local Plan which meant that much-needed new homes could be built across the Borough, but in sensible locations which enhance the community. This means respecting the views of communities and working with them to ensure new homes are available to buy.

While Swindon has worked to help deliver its fair share of new homes, other town and cities across the county have not pulled their weight. Justin’s comments came as part of an appearance on ITV West Country’s Politics Show, alongside the Shadow Farming Minister, David Drew MP, and the Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Baroness Jolly.

Justin highlighted Swindon’s success in this area, which has unlocked almost £40 million of additional funding from central government, as he set out some of the steps the Government is taking to help build more homes and help people on to the housing ladder. These include:

The Help to Buy scheme which has assisted 240,000 to buy their own home (including over 1,000 in Swindon)

£7.1bn of funding as part of the expanded Affordable Homes Programme to deliver 225,000 affordable houses by 2021

A £2.3bn infrastructure fund to unlock vital services for new developments

Protected funding of more than £1bn to develop brownfield and former publically property sites

Housing starts nationally up 15% year-on-year and up 152% on Labour’s final year in office